SEVEN police officers including a female officer, from the Princes Town Police Station appeared in court yesterday charged with misbehaviour in public office related to setting fire to a teenager at that police station in December.

The seven appeared in the San Fernando Magistrateís First Court after DPP Roger Gaspard instructed that officers of the Police Service Professional Standards Bureau charge them.

They were not called upon to plead as the charge of misbehaviour in public office by committing grievous bodily harm on a person while in police custody was laid indictably. The six male officers were represented by attorney Richard Valere who told the court that the men had unblemished records and were not likely to abscond.

The magistrate then set bail at $50,000 with a surety for each of the seven officers to reappear at the Princes Town Magistrateís Court tomorrow.

Last December, 18-year-old Jamerson John filed a report claiming he was stripped to his underpants and doused with methylated spirit and set on fire at the Princes Town Police Station.

At the time the teenager was detained for housebreaking and larceny in Moruga, an accusation which he steadfastly denied. John suffered burns to his hip, legs and genital area and had to seek medical treatment. Through his attorney Petronilla Basdeo, a report was subsequently made to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and following investigations, a file was forwarded to the DPP who instructed officers of the Professional Standards Bureau to charge the seven.